Door.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

F. A. LANG.

DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.22,1 906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Witnesses:

I [awe/$3773 %%7 No. 841,696. PATENTED JAN- 22, 1907. F. A. LANG.

DOOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.22, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses: Q U

W'ZQM 16 M 79 FRANK A. LANG, OF BOROUGH OF QUEENS, NEW YORK.

DOQR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed March 22, 1906. Serial No. 307,381.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. LANG, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Queens, in the countyof Queens and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Doors, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to doors and in some of its features more especially to doors which are designed to permit ingress or egress of persons while excluding the elements and the dust and noise of the street.

The invention has for objects to provide a door which will allow a relatively large number of persons to pass through for each actuation of the door and at the same time give ample walking space for each person, to provide a door which may be changed instan 'taneously from a rotating door to a straightaway unobstructed exit to provide a door which may be used as a revolving door or a door structure and Without protracted and elaborate preliminary, adjustment of fixtures and connections; to provide a door which permits free ingress and egress of persons with little'or no preliminary positioning of the door; to rovide a door which runs lightly and steadily and which is of great elliciency, attractive appearance, and of strong and inexpensive construction, as well as having' other advantages. These and other obj ects of invention will in part be obvious and will in part mofe fully appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts, arrangements, combinations, and improvements herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, which are referred to herein and form a part hereof, there is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, the same serving, in connection with.

the description herein, to illustrate the principles thereof.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a door structure constructed in accordance with the invention, said section being taken upon the line A B of Fig. 3 of the drawings. Fig. 2 is a vertical section upon the line C D of Fig. 3. Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, are plan views, partly diagrammatic in character, of different positions of the door and of some modifications in the form thereof and Figs. 9 and 10 are details illustrating one feature of the invention.

A door structure constructed in accord ance with one feature of the invention comprises a casing having two opposed segmental members and a door rotatably mounted within said casing, the door comprising two separated members symmetrically arranged with reference to each other and to the said casing. Each of the said door members is constructed and arranged so as to form, with the adjacent segmental member, a passageway between the said door member and segmental member as the door member rotates past the segmental member, and also so that thesaid door members shall contact at their vertical edges with the said segmental members. There is also arranged between the saidseparated door members an intermediate member constructed and arranged to close the space between said separated door members. The said intermediate member is preferably located centrally with reference to the separated door members. The said symmetrically-arranged door members are spaced apart sufficiently so that there are provided two additional moving passageways between the said members, the said intermediate member and the segmental members of the casing during the rotation of the door. With this general arrangement and disposition'of parts almost the entire included space is available for occupancy, and it will be found that a door of ordinary dimensions will permit a very large number.

of persons to pass for each rotation of the door. It will be found also that ample space for each person to walk without colliding with the door is provided and that other advantages, some of which are pointed out herein, are secured.

The door-casing comprises generally in addition to the opposed segmental members mentioned a top and bottom, although the door structure is located may in some cases be utilized for this purpose. The two opposed segmental members may be of any suitable form, but are preferably cylindrical segments.

From theforegoing it will be understood that there are two opposcd'openings between the two segments of the door-casing to permit ingress and egress, that the said two synnmetrically-arranged door members and the intermediate member for closing the space between them are arranged for rota- "floor or ceiling of the building where the tion together within the said casing, and all the said parts are so arranged and disposed as to permit the ingress and egress of'persons, while at all times the elements are excluded as well as the noise and dust of the street. The two symmetrically-arranged members may be plane or flat or they may be curved or bent at an angle. It will in mostinstances be found in practice that the curved or angled form has some advantages over the plane or flat form. With the curved or angled form the two members will be arranged so that each of them: will be reversely positioned with reference to each of the segmental members as'it. rotates past, so as to form the moving passage-wayor compartment therebetween. j

4 According to certain features of the inven-. tion the intermediate member, which is arranged between the said two separated door members, mav be fixed with reference thereto,

' thereby serving to close the space between two swinging parts, which may be used one to a straight-away unobstructed exit.

for ingress and one for egress, as desired. By this feature of the invention-it will be understood that a practically instantaneous change may be made from the rotating door Certain other features of the'invention may be usedin connection with the said features, if

desired, which featur es will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

Referring to the a articular embodiment P illustrated, by Way of example, in the accompanymg drawings, the reference-numerals 1 and 2 are applied, respectively, to thetwo separated symmetrically-arranged door members. The member, which is constructed and arranged to close the space between the said members lfand 2 and which ma .be termed the intermediate door mem er, is indicated by the reference-numeral 3. Means are providedfor holding themembers 1 and 2 fixed relation to each other, and in certaln aspectsof the invention such means may be of any suitable or convenient form. a For instance, the intermediate member 3 may, as

hereinbefore indicated, be constructed so as to be'fixed or integral with the said members 1 and 2, or, if deslred, one or-more connections between the said members 1 and 2 maybe provided for holding them fixedly. with.reference to each other. In the drawings herewith the members 1 and 2 are-shown as havrigid connections centrally located with reference to the said members and arranged both" at the top and bottom. The said connections are shown in the form of flat plates and are indicated bythe reference-numerals 4 and 5, respectively. The intermediate door member 3 is sh wn swung between the members 1 and 2 and the plates 4 and 5. The vertical edges of the members 1 and" 2 are positioned, as hereinbefore indicated, so

as to contact during their rotation with the segmental members which constitute the sides of the casing,'the said segmental members being indicated in the drawings by the reference-numerals 6 and 7. The said parts are not necessarily in close contact, however, but may be only closely contiguous, and in order to provide a close and practically airti ht contact therebetween flexible strips or otdier suitable or convenient devices may be used.

Any suitable means for supporting the door so as to retain it in proper position within the casing while leaving 1t free to rotate may be provided, so far as certain features of theinvention are concerned; but in accordance with other features of the. invention certain partlcular forms of means for ac- .complishing this are provided. Accordingly, in Fig. 1 of the drawings is shown an overbe obvious that the relation of the track and sheaves may be reversed, if desired.

In Fi 2 of the drawings another form of means or rotatably supportin the door is shown as comprising centrally-Tocated pivot ball-bearings at the top and bottom. The bearing at the top isindicated by 11 and the bottom bearing by thenumeral 12. With a' construction of the general character illustrated in the said figure, the plate 5 maybe made sufficiently broad so as to at all times cover the bearing 12, andthus protect it from dirt and other disturbing agents. With such an arrangement a broad bearing may be provided with a large number of balls of considerable diameter, so as to furnish a door which will turn with practically unappreciable resistance. If-desired, a chamber or trap '13 may also be provided for allowing any small quantity of dirt that may pass the plate 5 to fall through the bearing 12"and to be thereafter removed without disturbing the bearing. It will be understood, further. that. an overhead suspension-mounting for thedoor may be combined with a central pivot at the bottom, if this should be found to conduce to steadiness and light running.

By referring to Figs. 3 to 8 of the drawings,

which are largely diagrammatic in character,

the action of certain members and also certain variations or modifications in the form of the members will be clearly understood. In Fig. 3 the members 1' and 2 are shown as cylindrical segments, with the intermediate member 3 arranged centrally thereof. In Fig. 5 of the drawings the members 1 and 2 are shown as of bent or an led form with their nearest parts centrally ocated, the in-- termediate member 3 being'also located at the said central point of the two members.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings the members 1 and In Figs; 3, 1, and 5 three different posi tions of the rotating door are shown, from which it will be seen that there are'movable passage-ways formed between the members 1 and? and the respective adjacent se' ments of the casing, as well as passageeways ormed between the said members, the intermediate member, and the segments of the casing. It will be further seen that persons-passing through. the door are allowed an unusually large space in the directlon in which they are wa king .and are not annoyed by striking the moving parts of the. doorway. It will be noted also that the parts of the door are so arranged that in some spaces between the door members the entire space inwardly to the center may be occupied by personspassing through the door. It will e further seen that a doorway. of substantially the usual" proportions permits of the passage of-four or more persons inwardly and four ormore outwardly for each complete rotation of the door. It will be also noted that the revolving doorway does not come into a position where it closes the passageway against use. thereby necessitating that any one desiring to enter lay hold .on the door and give it a preliminary quarter-turn before being able to step into position for passing through the door.

It-will be seen also from inspection of Figs. 3,6, 7, '8, 9, and 10 and from thedescription. that-the doorway is transformed into a straightaway doorway without the taking down, readjustment, or moving of the door parts and without readjustment of numerous bolts and other holding devices, as is commonly necessary withldoorways of'this kind. By merely disengaging the swinging member 3 or by disenga ing the member 3-and rendering the mem ers 1 and 2 stationary the straightaway unobstructed exit may be made promptly and without danger of the door rotating, and thereby obstructing the straightaway passage-way. It will be understood, therefore, that the doorway is of great advantage in the case of panic from any cause in a crowded building, for, as indicated, a straightaway passage-way can be provided in practically an instant of time. It is therefore contemplated by one feature of the invention to provide means for determining whether the door shall act as a rotat-' ing or a swinging door. With the illustrated embodiment a form of means is shown which may be set to hold the member 3 fixed with reference to the other members of the rotatable door and .to permit the door as a whole to rotate within the casing or to permit the member 3 to swing freely with reference to the other members ofthe door and to hold the door as a whole from rotation within its casing. The said invention also contemplates, further, providing such determining i means in the form of settable means and with a movable member'for controlling the said settable means. In the drawings, therefore, one.- form of such means is illustrated and is shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 1,0. As shown, the said form of means comprises a sliding jointed bolt 16,,wl1ich is shown as being mounted in the member 1' of the door and adapted to pass into en' agement'with the floor of the casing or wit the intermediate member 3. For the purpose of actuating the said bolt it is provided with a handpiece 17. At a proper lace in the floor 'a plate 18 for the end of t e sliding bolt 16 is provided, which may contain a number of recesses or sockets for receiving the end of the said bolt 16, and, if desired, the walls between the said sockets may be beveled and the end of the bolt also. With-a plate and bolt of the form indicated it is onlynecessary to position the door approximately and then to slide the bolt, by means of the handle 17, so that the bolt will engage the plate 18 and the door will be firmly held against rotation and the member 3 will be free to swing. When it is desired to use the door again as a revolving door, it is only necessary to move the bolt by its actuating. member so that the bolt will pass out of engagement with. the lplate 18 and into engagement with the memer 3; The said member 3will by engagement ofthe bolt 16 therewith be held firmly in and arranged so as to form with the adjacent.

From all the foregoing it will be under vertical edges with the said segmental mem-- stood that a door has been provided which realizes the objects of invention and the ad-- vantages herein set forth, together with other objects and advantages.

' The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the particular construction shown nor to any particular constructions by which it has been or may be carried into effect, as

many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the main principles of the invention and without: sacrificing its chief advantages.

-What"I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A door structure including'in combinationa casing, said casing comprising, two

opposed segmental members," two sepa.

rated, symmetrically-arranged door members mounted for rotation within the said'casing, each of said door members being constructed segmental member a passage-way between the said doormember and segmental member as the door member rotates past the se men tal' member and also so that the door members shall contact at their vertical edges with the said segmental members, and an in termediate door member constructed and arrateddoor members.

2. A door structure including in combinaranged to close the space between said sepation a casing, said casing comprising two segmental member a passage-waylbetween opposed" segmental members, two separated, symmetrically-arranged door members mounted for rotation within the said casing, each of said door members being constructed and-arranged so as to form with the adjacent the said doormember and segmental member as the door member rotates past the segmental member and also so that the said door members shall contact at their vertical edges with the said segmental members, an

' segmental-members two additional passageways as the door r'nember rotates, and means for rotatably supporting the entire door in position within the casing.

3. A door structure lncluding in combination acasing, said casing comprising two opposed segmental members, two separated door members mounted'fo'r rotation within the casing and symmetrically arranged with respect to the said casing and with respect to each other, each of said door members being constructed and arranged'so as to form with the adjacent segmental member a passageway between the said door member and seg mental member as the door member rotates past the-segmental member and also so that the said doormembers shall contact at their bers, and a swinging door member construct-l ed and arrange to close the space between the said separated door members.

4. A door structure including in combination a casing, said casing comprising two opposed segmental members, two" separated door members mounted for rotation withinthe casing and symmetricall arranged with resplect to the said casing andfyiith respect to eac other, each of said door members being constructed and arranged so as to form with -the adjacent segmental member a passageway between the said door member and segmental member as the door member rotates past the segmental member and also so that the said door members shall contact at their vertical edges with the said segmental members, connections between the said symmetricallyarranged' door members for holding them in position,,and a swinging door member constructed and arranged to close the space between the said separated door mem- I bers.

5. A door structure including in combinationa casing, said casing comprising two opposed segmental 'm'embers, two separated, curved or bent door members mounted for rotation within the casing and symmetricallyarranged'w'ith respect to the casing and bersbeing .arran ed so as to be reversely powithrespect to each other, said door memsitioned with re erence toeach of the segmental members, and also to have their vertical edges contact-therewith, as they rotate past it, and an intermediate door member for closing the space between the said two door members. a

' 6. A door structure including in combina-' tion a casing, said casing comprising. two opposed segmental, members, two separated,

too

curved or bent door members mounted for rotation within the casing and symmetricall arrangedwith respect to the casing and wit respect to each other, said door members being' arranged so as'to be reversely positioned with reference to each of the segmentalmem-.

bers,, and also to have their vertical edges contact therewith, as they rotatepast it, and

an intermediate swinging door -member for closing the space between the said two door members. v I

7. A door structure including in combina' tion a casing, said casin comprising two opposed segmental mem ers, *two separated, curved or bent door members mounted for rotation within the casing and symmetricall arranged with respect to the casing and wit respect to each other, said door members being arranged so as to be reversely positioned with reference to each of the segmental members, and also to have their vertical'edges contact therewith, as they rotate past it, fixed connections between the two separated door members for holding them in position, and a arranged with respect to the casing and with respect to each other, said door members being arranged so asto be'reversely positioned with reference to each of the'segmental members, and also so as to have their vertical edges contact therewith as theyrotate pastit,

centrally located, rigid connections between -e said members atvtheir tops andbottoms, and a swinging door mounted between the said membersand the said connections so as to close the space between the said members.

9. A door structure including in combina* tion a casmg, said casmg com rising two op-' posed segmental members, a oor constri1c t-" ed and arranged to rotate within the sald casing, a swinging door member const tuting a part of the said rotatable door, means which.

maybe set to hold the swinging doorsnember fixed with reference to the other members of said rotatable door and to permit the door as a whole to rotate within the casing, or to per limit the said swinging door member to swing with reference to the other members of the -said rotatable doorandtohold the door as a whole from rotation within its casing, and a member for setting the said settable means.

Y 10. A door structure including in combination a casing, said casing'comprising two opposed segmental members, a door constructed and arranged to rotate-Within the said casing, a swin 'ing door constituting a part of the said rotata le door,- a bolt mechanism mounted upon another part of the rotatable door,

said bolt mechanism having a part constructed and arranged to engage the swinging door and another art constructed and arranged to engage the casing :and having'also means for simultaneously actuating the said parts so that as one part is. moved into the engag- 'ing position the other of'sai'd parts is moved into-the disengaging position.

1 1. A door structure including in combination a casing, said casing comprising two opposed segmental members, twoseparated door members mounted for rotation within the casing and symmetricall arranged with respect to the said casing an with respect to each other, each of said door members being constructed and arranged so as to form with the adjacent segmental member a passageway between the said door member and-segmental member as the door member rotates past the segmental member and also so that the said door members shall contact at their vertical edges withthe said segmental members, connections between the said symmetrically-arranged door members for holding t'hem'in' position, a swinging door member constructed and arranged to close the space between the said separated door members,

and a bolt mechanism-constructed and ar ranged to be moved into position to bolt the a swinging door member to the separated door mem ers or to be moved into position to bolt the separated door members to the casingand to free the swinging door member;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses;

- n FRANK A. LANG Witnesses:

JOHN D. MORGAN, ,CLARA PHILLIPs. 

